Improvement in machines for cutting grain,, grass



naw Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES TAYLOR, OF MGKEESPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR CUTTING GRAIN, GRASS, 80G.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 13,143, dated June 26,1855.

To all whom it may conce'rm/ Be it known that I, CHARLES TAYLOR, ofMcKcesport, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented a certain new and Improved Machine for Mowing Grass and ReapingGrain; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, andexact description thereof, reference being had t0 the annexed drawings,forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspectiveview ot my improved reaping-machine. Fig.2.is a perspective view ot' thecutters ff, perpendicular rods e e, &c., and braces g g, 85o., detachedfrom the machine.

My machine consists in the use of a series of knives or cuttersconnected with the framework ot' the machine at their point, but notconnected with the machine 0r with each other at their heel, andremovable at pleasure, by means of which arrangement their sharp cuttersmay be employed, which, being supported at their points, have sufficientfirmness, and being disconnected at their heel have sufcient elasticityto perform their functions with certainty, and without danger of themachine becoming choked or impeded in its progress.

In the drawings, a a are the runners of'the sled on which the machine issupported.

b b, Src., are four uprights supporting the beams o c and the cross-beamd. From the cross-beam d depend a number ot' perpendicular rods, e e,&c., the points of which reach down nearlyas low as the level ot' thecutters. These rods are wedge-shaped in their transverse section, withthe apex of the wedge toward the grass or grain, and prepare the way forthe cutters. i

Ihe cutters ff, &c., are placed at a little distance back of the pointsof the rods e c, Src., and are supported and connected with thecross-beam l by the bracess g g, one end of each ot' which is attachedto the cross-beam d, immediately behind the point ot' connection of theperpendicular rods e e, &c. The lower end of each brace g is attached tothe upper surface of the block which carries the cutters. rIhe braces gg, &c., are inclined at an angle of about sixty degrees with thehorizon. The cutter-blocks h IL at the lower extremity of the braces ggare of iron, and to them are attached by screws cutters or knives f f.These are ot' steel, and are long, with culterine edges.

'IWo of these cutters are placed on each cutter-block h, so as toconverge and come to a point at the extremity of the braces g g, 8vo.Each alternate pair of cutters is longer than the other, so that, as thecutters do not come in contact at their heel or rear i extremity, it'any grass or grain passes between the cutters without being cnt it willnot escape the projecting ends ofthe longer cutters, which pass behindthe point where the heels of the cutters approach nearest to contact. Asthese cutters are merely attached to their cutterblocks by screws theymay be readily removed in case they need sharpening or replacing. Shortcutters 'i t' are placedl one on each runner a a, projecting out at anangle toward the outside cutters,ff.

In cutting grass it falls down to the ground between the cutters, whichprevents their choking, but in reaping `grain it is necessary to saveit, and an apron, le, tits 0n the runners a a, back of the cutters,filling up the whole space back of-the cutters, thus preserving thegrain. The fan-wheel L is supported on the beams c c, and is so placedas that when it revolves it forces the grass or grain against thecutters and aids them in cutting the grain. The motion ofthis fan-wheelis obtained by a belt, m, running over a drum at the extremity of theshaft or axis l ot' the fan-wheel, and thence over a drum attached tothe wheel w, ijxed in the side of one ot' the runners a, and which restson the ground and moves as the machine is drawnalong.

It is almost needless further to describe the operation of my machine.The mode in which the cutters are attached to the machine is such thatthe greatest firmness and strength are given -to that part which firstenters the grain or grass, and which most needs to be sustained. Therear end of the cutters being unconnected with the machine gives anelasticity or spring to the cutters, which enables them to meet anyunusual resistance without breaking. The fact ot' their beingdisconnected with each other at the rear end prevents the choking andclogging of the machine, while the longer cutters, extending behind therear end of the shorter ones, cuts down any straggling grass or grainwhich may have slipped through past the short cutters.

Having thus described my improved grain and grass reaping machine, whatI claim as m5' invention, and desire to secure by Letters l andremovable at; pleasure, substantially in Patent, isthe manner and forthe purposes aforesaid.

The use of aJ series of knives or cutters oonneeted with the frame oflshe machine zitthe l point or angle formed by the connection of'Vitnesses:

each pair of cutters, but not connected with W'M. N. HOWARD,

the machine or with each other lat, the heel, N. BUCKMASTER.

CHARLES TAYLOR.

